The Jews in ancient, mediaeval and modern times . at the suns own appeared to strangers when they were at a dis-tance, like a mountain covered with snow, for thoseparts of it that were not covered with gold were ex-ceeding white. Vast and splendid the Temple certainly was. TheRomans were then at the height of power, andfamiliar with all the magnificence of the earth, yet itseemed to them one of the wonders of the doubt it far surpassed in greatness and beautythe structure of Solomon, upon whose foundations itwas reared. The Herods had lavished upon it vasttreasures. The Temple
The Jews in ancient, mediaeval and modern times . at the suns own appeared to strangers when they were at a dis-tance, like a mountain covered with snow, for thoseparts of it that were not covered with gold were ex-ceeding white. Vast and splendid the Temple certainly was. TheRomans were then at the height of power, andfamiliar with all the magnificence of the earth, yet itseemed to them one of the wonders of the doubt it far surpassed in greatness and beautythe structure of Solomon, upon whose foundations itwas reared. The Herods had lavished upon it vasttreasures. The Temple possessed, besides its splendor, all thestrength of a fortress ; but just north of it rose astronghold more formidable, the Antonia, named forMark Antony, who had been, a century before, aredoubtable figure in all this region. The Antoniastood upon an elevated crag, of which the sides werefaced with smooth stones, and the top surmounted bya wall enclosing a great tower or keep of the heightof sixty feet. Turrets stood upon the corners of Io6 THE STORY OF THE JEWS. one rising to a height of more than a hundred feet,which commanded a view of the whole interior ofthe Temple. The fortress comprehended spaciousapartments, courts, and camping grounds. Duringthe Roman occupation, it was always garrisoned bya legion, who, by convenient passages, could marchforth into the Temple or the city, if it were the gov-ernors will. For external defences, the city had before it threewalls, except where protected by deep ravines, inwhich places there was but one. The constructionwas most massive, the walls rising to the height ofthirty feet, with frequent towers, provided withchambers and cisterns for the rain, on which the citywas largely dependent for its water. The number ofthese towers was one hundred and sixty-four. Akraand Ophel were quarters of the city closely adjoiningthe Temple ; while Bezetha, a populous suburb, hadshortly before been included within the defences byHerod Agrippa
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookpublisherlo, booksubjectjews
